Image Pixelate Tool
Turn any image into large pixels. Choose the block size and one of three styles – classic square blocks, mosaic tiles with gaps, or round dots like a LED wall or halftone print – and pick the gap colour. Each block takes the average colour of the pixels it covers, and the block size always refers to the full-resolution image, so the download looks exactly like the preview.
- Files stay on your device
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Pixelate
Each block is filled with the average colour of its pixels. Block size refers to the full-size image; the preview is scaled to match. To hide faces or text permanently, use 12 px or more – small blocks can sometimes be reversed.
Output
How to use Image Pixelate Tool
- Drop one or more images onto the page.
- Set the block size.
- Choose blocks, tiles or dots and the gap colour.
- Download the pixelated images.
Image Pixelate Tool features
Three styles
Square blocks, tiles with gaps, round dots.
True averages
Each block shows the mean colour of its area.
Gap colour
Choose the background between tiles and dots.
Transparency kept
PNG and WebP keep transparent areas.
Batch
Apply the same settings to up to 50 images.
Private
Processed in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
When to use Image Pixelate Tool
- Creating mosaic and retro artwork.
- Making abstract backgrounds from photos.
- Hiding a whole image for spoiler-free previews.
- Producing LED-wall and halftone looks for posters.
Image Pixelate Tool FAQ
How do I pixelate only part of an image, such as a face?
Use the Image Blur tool, which can pixelate or blur a selected area. This tool pixelates the whole image.
Is pixelation a safe way to hide information?
Only with large blocks. Small blocks over text or faces can sometimes be partly reversed. For sensitive content, use blocks of 12 pixels or more relative to the text height, or cover the area completely.
What block size should I use?
For a recognisable picture use 1–2% of the image width; for abstract art 5% or more. The size is in pixels of the original image.
Why does the tile style change the colours slightly?
The gaps take up part of the area and add their own colour, which changes the overall impression, just as grout does in a real mosaic.
Which formats can I use?
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF (first frame), BMP and AVIF in; JPG, PNG or WebP out. PNG and WebP keep transparency; JPG gets a white background.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. The images are processed in your browser and never leave your device.
Pixelation as an effect
Pixelation divides an image into a grid of equal blocks and fills each block with a single colour. The result recalls early computer graphics, mosaics made of square stones and the LED walls of stadiums. It removes detail while keeping the overall composition and colours, which makes it attractive for artwork, backgrounds and teasers.
The colour of each block is the average of all original pixels it covers, including their transparency. This gives a faithful impression of the area, unlike picking a single sample pixel, which can produce noisy, unrepresentative colours.
The tile style leaves narrow gaps between the blocks, like grout between mosaic stones, and the dot style draws a circle per block, reminiscent of halftone printing or a matrix of lamps. Dark gaps make colours glow; white gaps look lighter and more graphic.
Because the preview is reduced to fit the screen, the tool scales the block size accordingly. A 16-pixel block in a 4000-pixel photo appears as a 4.8-pixel block in a 1200-pixel preview – the proportions are identical, and the download has the full resolution.
If you need pixel art with a limited palette instead, use the Image Pixel Art Generator, which also reduces the colours. All processing runs locally in your browser.